PTO & PTA Fall Festival and Family Night Activity Ideas in Rhode Island

Fall festivals, spring carnivals, and family fun nights bring the whole school community together. Here's how Rhode Island PTOs and PTAs can build an activity lineup with one vendor for the inflatables, games, treats, shade, and power.

Build your activity zones

• Headline attraction: an obstacle course draws a crowd and moves lines quickly. Options include WIPEOUT ($500), Shape Shifter Lagoon ($500), and Glitch Gamer's Obstacle Course ($750).
• Little-kid zone: bounce houses and bounce house with slide combos for the youngest students and siblings.
• Carnival and game row: Carnival Game Time, interactive inflatables, and giant lawn games like Giant Jenga, Giant Connect 4, Cornhole, and Kan Jam. Browse all games and activities.
• Treats: cotton candy machine ($70) and snow cone machine ($105), run by your volunteers.
• Foam finale (warm weather, outdoors): our Foam Cannon ($300) needs a hose and an outdoor outlet.

School & organization special: book an obstacle course valued at $450 or more and we'll include a free bounce house or inflatable game when inventory allows.

Shade, seating, and power

• 10x10 tents ($25) and 10x20 tents ($100) for ticket tables, bake sales, and a rest area.
• Chairs ($2 each) and tables from our tables, chairs, and tents page.
• No outlets near the field? Add the Honda 2000 W inverter generator ($75). Each inflatable needs a standard outlet within about 75–80 ft.

Volunteers and attendants

Adult supervision is required whenever inflatables are in use. Many PTOs staff stations with volunteers. If you're short on helpers, add Wavy Bounce event attendants: $45 per hour per attendant, with a 3-hour minimum ($135 per attendant).

Planning checklist for the committee

1. Pick a date and a backup date. Weekends fill first, so reach out early.
2. Estimate attendance and the ages of the children.
3. Walk the site: open space, surface, outlets, and the path from the truck to the setup area.
4. Ask your school or district about vendor and insurance requirements. We provide a certificate of insurance on request.
5. Decide on payment: school check or pay online to reserve your date.

What if the weather turns?

If our crew can't safely set up because of weather, you choose: a full refund or a new date. No fees. Moving indoors? See our indoor fun day guide.

Call or text Ed at 401-999-9599 to check your date, or visit our Schools & Organizations page. Delivery is free within 10 miles of Providence, then $1.75 per mile up to 27 miles, and $2.25 per mile beyond that.

← More planning guides on the Wavy Bounce blog